Cobra Kai star Xolo Maridueña is set to play the lead role of Blue Beetle for HBO Max, but it looks like the movie won’t be hitting the streaming service anymore—instead it’s going to get a theatrical release.
As per Variety, Blue Beetle is now set to hit theaters, and is aiming to come out on Aug. 18, 2023. This will be the first DC project that was originally announced for streaming, but then upgraded for a theatrical release. One can’t help but wonder if the same could be done for Batgirl—who is no doubt the more popular character.
Maridueña will be playing the Jaime Reyes incarnation of the Blue Beetle, who was created by Keith Giffen, John Rogers, and Cully Hamner; and introduced in Infinite Crisis. In the comics, Jaime finds a Blue Beetle scarab that grants him an extraterrestrial suit of armor.
For a while rumors were circulating that the movie was going to be a buddy-cop film with BB and Booster Gold; but for now, it looks like this film is going to be a solo outing. Then again, Booster could prove for a great foil character for Jaime, starting out as an opportunist from the future to an actual hero of the present.
Going back to Maridueña, he’s proven himself as a solid protagonist with Cobra Kai, being able to switch between action star and timid nerd with ease. It’s going to be great to watch him take the spotlight, and based on the theatrical upgrade, WB could have some real faith in this movie.
Catch Blue Beetle when it hits theaters on Aug. 18, 2023. Catch Mariduena when Cobra Kai returns to Netflix on Dec. 31.
